Antiopella capensis

Last updated

Antiopella capensis
Silvertip nudibranch.jpg
A silvertip nudibranch, either J. capensis or Janolus longidentatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
(unranked):
Family:
Genus:
Species:
J. capensis
Binomial name
Janolus capensis
Bergh, 1907

Antiopella capensis, originally described as Janolus capensis, the Cape silvertip nudibranch, [1] is a beautiful species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae.

Apart from striking differences in the egg ribbons, individuals of this species are externally not distinguishable from the medallion silvertip nudibranch, Antiopella longidentata .

Distribution

This species is endemic to the South African coast and is found only from Saldanha Bay to East London, from the intertidal border to at least 40 m. [2]

Description

The Cape silvertip nudibranch grows up to 40 mm in total length. It is a pale-bodied nudibranch with dark- to tan-coloured cerata with white tips. Its rhinophores are white and rolled. They are separated from one another by an opaque white spherical mass of unknown function known as the rhinophoral crest.

Ecology

This species of nudibranch feeds on moss animals, bryozoans such as Menipea triseriata and Onchoporella buskii . The egg mass is globular, convoluted and has numerous eggs per capsule. [3] The egg ribbon of the medallion silvertip is diagnostic for the species: a flat spiral of capsules with only 5-7 eggs per capsule.

Related Research Articles

<i>Godiva quadricolor</i> Species of gastropod

Godiva quadricolor is a species of sea slug, a nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.

<i>Fjordia capensis</i> Species of gastropod

The white-edged nudibranch, Fjordia capensis, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch, a very colourful sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Flabellinidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gasflame nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The gasflame nudibranch is a very colourful species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae. Bonisa nakaza is the only species in the genus Bonisa.

<i>Rostanga elandsia</i> Species of gastropod

Rostanga elandsia, is a species of dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Discodorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape dorid</span> Species of gastropod

The Cape dorid is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inkspot nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The inkspot nudibranch, Ceratosoma ingozi, is a species of colourful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Chromodorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-speckled nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The blue-speckled nudibranch is a species of sea slug, a dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Dendrodorididae.

<i>Okenia amoenula</i> Species of gastropod

The fiery nudibranch, Okenia amoenula, is a species of colourful sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giraffe spot nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The giraffe spot nudibranch, Ancula sp., as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of colourful sea slug, specifically a dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Goniodorididae. As of November 2009, it remained undescribed by science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowned nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The crowned nudibranch is a species of dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Polyceridae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twin-crowned nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The twin-crowned nudibranch, scientific name Polycera sp., as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Polyceridae. As of November 2009, it was undescribed by science.

Acanthodoris planca is a species of dorid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Onchidorididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The black nudibranch is a species of colorful sea slug, a dorid nudibranch, a shell-less marine gastropod mollusk in the family Polyceridae. This species is endemic to South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghost nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The ghost nudibranch, Lecithophorus capensis, is a species of dorid nudibranch, and is only found in South Africa. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Polyceridae. It is the sole species of the genus Lecithophorus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soft coral nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The soft coral nudibranch, Tritonia sp. 1, as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of small sea slug, a dendronotid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tritoniidae. As of November 2009, it was undescribed by science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brush nudibranch</span> Species of gastropod

The brush nudibranch, Tritonia sp. 2, as designated by Gosliner, 1987, is a species of dendronotid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Tritoniidae. As at November 2009, it remained undescribed by science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antiopella longidentata</span> Species of gastropod

Antiopella longidentata, previously named Janolus longidentatus, the medallion silvertip nudibranch, is a species of nudibranch, or sea slug. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Proctonotidae.

Amanda armata, the night sky nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.

<i>Cratena capensis</i> Species of gastropod

Cratena capensis, the orange-eyed nudibranch, is a species of sea slug, specifically an aeolid nudibranch. It is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Facelinidae.

References

  1. Gosliner, T.M. (1981). "The south African Janolidae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) with the description of a new genus and two new species". Annals of the South African Museum, 86(1): 1-42.
  2. Gosliner, T.M. 1987. Nudibranchs of Southern Africa ISBN   0-930118-13-8
  3. Zsilavecz, G. 2007. Nudibranchs of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. ISBN   0-620-38054-3